The Owl's Gazette

Vol. 1 No. 3

Community Investment News for the Week!

Truth, Goodness and Beauty

Music at Great Hearts

Essential to a true classical education is the explicit instruction of music and all of its components. It is one of the foundational pieces of what makes our educational model unique. In a time where many traditional public school districts are cutting fine arts programs, we remain steadfast in the belief that music is critical to the development and moral formation of children. Plato said "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything." At Great Hearts Live Oak, our music program embodies that belief. Music is not simply an elective, it is a pertinent course that our students take multiple times a week from kindergarten until they graduate high school because we believe in its significance.

Throughout our music program, scholars learn about music theory, instruments from different cultures, vocals, folksongs and study the classics that have shaped the way the world sees music. These studies help our scholars develop impulse control, determination, creativity and dedication to what is inherently beautiful. In kindergarten through third grade, Mrs. Orton teaches the younger students using a method called Kodály, which uses kinesthetic, auditory and visual components to teach students rhythm, beat and music fundamentals. In fourth through seventh grade, students hone in their musical knowledge and refine the craft by learning to play the music they've studied. Upper school typically has chorus, learns the recorder and explores their voices through song and music thoery.

During a traditional school year, our students would be preparing for a winter concert, followed by another concert in the spring. Due to the pandemic, we are unable to meet in large crowds, thus delaying our ability to host school concerts for the time being. Our sister academy, Archway Glendale in Arizona, hosted a virtual performance of 'What a Wonderful World.' This virtual concert reminds us that despite the circumstances, music and beauty will still prevail. Our students get to solidify that sentiment every time they are in music class. In the top-right pictures above, students went on a virtual field trip and created percussion instruments out of spoons and tape. They discovered how and why instruments can make the sounds they make and additionally made neat beats as a class!

Our music program will continue to expand and flourish as we grow as a school. We are looking forward to the years to come where we will have school concerts full of beautiful songs and odes to our classical tradition!

To learn about the Kodály music method, click here.

Mrs. Orton and Mr. Pacheco's Recommended Music:

Classical Music for Kids

Music for Studying

Mozart Flute Music

Great Hearts Virtual Choir Performance

Get to know our music teachers!

"My name is Mrs. Orton, and I have the great privilege of teaching music to kinder through third grade at Great Hearts Live Oak. As a musician and music teacher, I have had many incredible opportunities in my field, but I consider the Great Hearts mission one of the highest things I can do- to cultivate the hearts and minds of children through the pursuit of what is true, good, and beautiful within the music art form. I love seeing their excitement as they learn and understand new musical concepts and their enthusiasm for the music of the great composers we've studied. One 2nd grade student said it best when she said, after we heard and watched a performance of Bach's Harpsichord Concerto No. 1, "That was REAL music!" I couldn't have said it better myself. I see in their eyes that they crave what is good and beautiful, when so often our world is bombarded with mediocre substitutes. They are capable of understanding and appreciating the best our world has to offer, and I love and am so grateful that I get to be a part of their journey of discovery."

Mrs. Orton has a degree in Vocal Pedagogy which a concentration in Solo and Choral Singing. She plays the piano and violin.

"My name is Mr. Pacheco and I teach music for grades 4-7. Music is an essential part of any education, especially here at Great Hearts. Students learn many practical life skills when learning music such as perseverance, focus, commitment, teamwork, and dedication. Music allows students to explore the abstract in a way that is tangible. Music provides our students with avenues of creativity and expression that can only be experienced through this art form. Our students at Great Hearts learn these ever important concepts and skills in every music class. We explore history from the perspective of the great musicians who came before us, both men and women. We learn about instruments from all around the world, how they sound and function, and their significance in those societies and cultures from which they come. Through it all our students learn to seek truth, beauty, and goodness through and in Music and it is my joy to help provide that experience for all of them."

Mr. Pacheco has a degree in Music Education and plays the guitar and piano.

How does Community Investment support our Music Program?

In a time where many traditional public schools are cutting fine arts from their programs, we are proud to deliver a robust and meaningful music education program to our scholars.

All music materials are purchased by our school because we believe in the power of music and its influence in our students. Below are a few of the costs associated with our music program.

Music risers: $10,000

Music chairs: $2,000

Music stands: $1,500

Piano for each music room: $2,000

Double sided music staff dry erase boards: $400

Music Theory books $5,500

Recorders: $700

Music resource books: $300

Supplies (posters, sit dots, shakers, etc.): $300

Concert Venue: $1,000-$3000 (concerts postponed for time being)

...And many more!

That is over $22,700 for our music program not including the cost of a concert venue!

Your gift to Community Investment supports our school music program and helps us continue to buy the equipment we need as we grow as a school.

The Great Hearts Live Oak Community Investment Goal for the 2020-2021 school year is $185,000. As of November 2nd, we have $100,225 pledged to our campus. Each and every dollar given to our CI campaign stays entirely at Great Hearts Live Oak and benefits every student. Community Investment does not go towards extra-curricular activities or anything that does not meaningfully impact every single student at our school.

Contributions go towards:

Salaries for 79 staff members

Computers and projectors

Classroom libraries for every room

School supplies

Paper and copy machines

Textbooks for our 723 students

Staff benefits

Distance learning supplies: microphone, ring lights, camera stands, etc.

School facilities

Plexiglass and safety equipment

Recess bags

PE equipment

Professional development

... and so much more!

Please consider giving to our Community Investment Campaign as we aim to close the funding gap at our school!

Donate Now

Thank you to the following families who have contributed to

the 2020-2021 Community Investment Campaign! We could not do it without you.

Mr. and Mrs. Adam Baldwin

Mr. and Mrs. Adam Cordes

Mr. and Mrs. Adam Durham

Mr. and Mrs. Albie Shaffer

Mr. and Mrs. Alex Frausto

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Aguillen

Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo Huerta

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Arellano

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hartwell

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Kremer

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Schaar

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Taylor

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Valadez

Mr. and Mrs. Ariel Lopez

Mr. and Mrs. Ashley Scott Winstead*

Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Wonser

Mr. and Mrs. Berekat Petros

Mr. and Mrs. Bradley O'brien

Mr. and Mrs. Brett Wilson

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Boudreaux

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Vranes

Mr. and Mrs. Bryce Guthrie

Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Ornelas

Mr. and Mrs. Cedric Satcher

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gregg

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Tintes

Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Burns

Mr. and Mrs. Cody Williams

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Correa

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Mcfarlin

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Ruiz

Mr. and Mrs. Danny Uribe

Mr. and Mrs. David Diaz De Leon

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Ewing*

Mr. and Mrs. David Hastings

Mr. and Mrs. David Palacios

Mr. and Mrs. David Perez

Mr. and Mrs. David Stopper

Mr. and Mrs. David Tidwell

Mr. and Mrs. Denny Lorenzo

Mr. and Mrs. Derek Benton

Mr. and Mrs. Derrick Hardeman

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Romero

Mr. and Mrs. Elias Warndahl

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Acosta

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Farias

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest (eric) Petrowsky

Mr. and Mrs. Everett Pascual

Mr. and Mrs. Farid Meghani

Mr. and Mrs. Fernando Montenegro

Mr. and Mrs. Francisco Rodriguez

Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Rucker

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald O'neal

Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert “leon” Rogers

Mr. and Mrs. Ignacio De Loera

Mr. and Mrs. Israel Jessop

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Skelton

Mr. and Mrs. Jake Knutson

Mr. and Mrs. Jarid Schaff

Mr. and Mrs. Jarrell Flowers

Mr. and Mrs. Jason Kuiper*

Mr. and Mrs. Jason Masse

Mr. and Mrs. Jason Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Villa

Mr. and Mrs. Jeromy Lund

Mr. and Mrs. Joe D. Hudson

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Garcia

Mr. and Mrs. Joel Orton

Mr. and Mrs. John Dittmar

Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Sullivan

Mr. and Mrs. Jose Huerta

Mr. and Mrs. Jose Ramirez

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Berg

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Martinez

Mr. and Mrs. Josh Bernstein

Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Radabaugh

Mr. and Mrs. Justin Croteau

Mr. and Mrs. Justin Fults

Mr. and Mrs. Justin Mansfield

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Weber

Mr. and Mrs. Khanh Nguyen

Mr. and Mrs. Landon Rolfe

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Morales

Mr. Reed Hanson*

*Denotes an employee of Great Hearts

Mr. and Mrs. Levi Jenkins

Mr. and Mrs. Luciano Ciorciari

Mr. and Mrs. Luis Leon

Mr. and Mrs. Luke Evans

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Haselden

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Board

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Langlois

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Levins

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Litwin

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Paiz

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Thompson

Mr. and Mrs. Micheal Titus

Mr. and Mrs. Miguelangel Acevedo

Mr. and Mrs. Gretchen Williams*

Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Hastings

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Butterworth

Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Garcia

Mr. and Mrs. Pablo Torres

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Metoyer

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gazda

Mr. and Mrs. Rey Sanchez

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hernandez

Mr. and Mrs. Rigoberto Hernandez

Mr. and Mrs. Rob Rye

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bethea

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Guzman

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Alexander

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Ruiz

Mr. and Mrs. Roman Velasquez

Mr. and Mrs. Ron Vest

Mr. and Mrs. Ron Zoromski*

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Nolte

Mr. and Mrs. Ruben Ramos

Mr. and Mrs. Russell John

Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Schutter

Mr. and Mrs. Sean Conklin

Mr. and Mrs. Starin

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Roth

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Berryman

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Dunn

Mr. and Mrs. Todd Welch

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Espinosa

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Fong

Mr. and Mrs. William Jacobs

Mr. and Ms. Chris Alvarado

Mr. and Ms. Emanuel Reyes

Mr. and Ms. Ernesto Trevino Iii

Mr. and Ms. Ivan Tirado

Mr. and Ms. Jade Caballero

Mr. and Ms. James Watts

Mr. and Ms. Joel Perez

Mr. and Ms. Joseph Rendon

Mr. and Ms. Josue Lomeli

Mr. and Ms. Lorenzo Reyna Iii

Mr. and Ms. Luis Pichardo

Mr. and Ms. Rene Bautista Gutierrez

Mr. and Ms. Sean O’connor

Mr. and Ms. Suman Shrestha

Mr. and Ms. Vishnu Borra

Mr. Aude Gonzaga

Mr. Basil Franz

Mr. Benson Sainsbury

Mr. Brandon Davison

Mr. Brian Hale

Mr. Brian Pena

Mr. Christopher Reyes

Mr. David Marsh

Mr. David Turcios

Mr. Domingo Gutierrez

Mr. Francisco Cruz

Mr. Gerardo Leon and Ms. Maria del Carmen Sosa

Mr. Greg Billa

Mr. James R. Lewis

Mr. James Saenz

Mr. Jose Gonzalez

Mr. Joseph Berg

Mr. Joshua Hayes

Mr. Mafe Moore

Mr. Matthew Munguia

Mr. Miguel Saldana

Mr. Miguel Zepeda

Mr. Peter Alvarez III

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Petrowsky

Ms. Kate Cherubin

Mr. Sean Hall

Ms. Agnes Ojo Ogunsede

Ms. Aimee Blanco

Ms. Alexis Jenkins

Ms. Amanda Alexander

Mr. and Mrs. Abram Dick*

Ms. Angie Rendon

Ms. Ashley Trevino

Ms. Audrey Wilson

Ms. Ayanna Banks

Ms. Barbara Johnson

Ms. Bonnie Guajardo

Ms. Caroline Pegis

Ms. Claire DeBakey

Ms. Clarrissa Mercado

Ms. Crystal Jarrett

Ms. Cynthia Audelo*

Ms. Cynthia Olivas

Ms. Dana Griffin

Ms. Deborah Billa

Ms. Deborah Kruciak

Mr. and Mrs. Josh Bernstein

Ms. Gavrielle Cavazos

Ms. Herlena Huang

Ms. Jaklyn Taylor

Ms. Janet Pennock

Ms. Janette Martinez

Ms. Jessica Correa

Mrs. Jessica Smith-Perry*

Ms. Johannah Slykhuis

Ms. Karen Munguia

Ms. Karina Sanchez

Ms. Kate Cherubin

Ms. Kathryn Gillespie

Ms. Kathy Holt

Ms. Kelci Jagge

Ms. Kim Bratcher

Ms. Kimeisha McCullum

Mrs. Kristen Villalvazo

Ms. Kristin Gonzales

Ms. Laura Alvarez

Ms. Laura Brent

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Jackson*

Ms. Lauren Billa

Ms. Lee Ann Huff

Mr. and Mrs. Allen Clark*

Ms. Linda Davis

Ms. Linda Whitaker

Ms. Lisa Fitzpatrick

Ms. Lisa Shelton

Ms. Lizette Perales

Ms. Lupe Ornelas

Ms. Margaret Pegis

Ms. Maria Johnson

Ms. Maria Ramon

Ms. Martha Lopez

Ms. Mary Pegis

Ms. Megan Morris

Ms. Meghon Gibson

Ms. Micheline Cruz

Ms. Monica Corral

Ms. Monika Chavez

Ms. Nora Diaz de Leon

Ms. Patsy Rendon

Ms. Rosalinda Leyva

Ms. Sabrina Mena

Ms. Samantha Fletcher

Ms. Sandra Jackson

Ms. Sara Swift

Ms. Sharon Swisher

Ms. Sheela Lakhani

Ms. Sonia Subia

Ms. Stacey Beasley

Ms. Stefanie Paradis

Ms. Stephanie Woods

Ms. Susanna Nixon

Ms. Thelia Brown

Ms. Tricia Davila

Ms. Veronica Cardenas

Ms. Victoria Sandoval

Ms. Yeny Elston

Ms. Yuka Andrade

Ms. Zenobia West

Mr. Robert Hand

Ms. Casey Thompson

Ms. Laura Sergent

Mrs. Abigail Kuiper *

Mr. and Mrs. John Blanco

Questions about Community Investment? Contact our Director of Academy Giving, Amelia Villalvazo-Dick